Poverty （贫困）is a big problem around the world. But China has done a good job of dealing with it and it has found its own way to fight poverty. Instead of just giving money to poor people, it has tried to educate people and give them the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Ordinary （平凡的）people play a big role in the fight. Here are two of them.

After graduating from Beijing Normal University in 2016, Huang Wenxiu gave up the chances to work in big cities and returned to her hometown of Baise in Guangxi and served as the village’s Party chief. A total of 418 villagers were lifted out of poverty thanks to her efforts. Unluckily, she died in a flash flood at the age of 30 while driving back to her village in Baise. She was given the title “role model of the times” by the central government.

When Mao Xianglin started to work as the Party secretary of his village, there was only one pathway out of the village for many years. He led more than 100 villagers to build a road with their hands. It took them seven years to build an eight-kilometer road. Mao then encouraged the villagers to grow oranges. Last year, their orange yield （产量）was nearly 40 tons. Young people have returned to the village to sell oranges online. By the end of 2019, 269 villagers had been lifted out of poverty. The per capita income （人均收入）reached 12, 670 yuan, 40 times more than in the 1990s.

What does “a volunteer” mean? Volunteers work and don’t get any money, but their helping hands can make both others and themselves happy. Many young people are ready to join them.

Angela, 17        I visited a forest park last week. I found there were not enough roads there. I am going to help build new hiking roads. I’ll spend seven days living in the forest. I can work with friends in the daytime and then sleep under the moonlight. It will be a nice sport, and I can do something good at the same time.

Andy, 18           I looked after my neighbours’ pets last summer. This summer, I will work in an animal centre and show my care and love to more pets. I am sure to make friends with more animals.

Haitao, 16          Some children have problems with reading. They need our help. I want to be a teacher when I grow up, and I love children and reading. So this experience(经历) will help me in many ways.